Screw anchorages with a plurality of tongues for receiving screws of different size and length



E. GISONDI 2,823,572 SCREW ANCHORAGES WITH A PLURALITY OF TONGUES FOR Feb. 18, 1958 RECEIVING SCREWS OF DIFFERENT SIZE AND LENGTH 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed. June 4, 1956 INVENTOR.

Emanuel Gisondi Actb rney Feb. 18, 1958 E. GISONDI 2,823,572

SCREW ANCHORAGES WITH A' PLURALITY OF TONGUES FOR RECEIVING SCREWS OF DIFFERENT SIZE AND LENGTH Filed June 4, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG]. 52 37 36 5/ 50 43 FIG.10.

I INVENTOR. Emanuel (5 s n/d Attorney SCREW ANCHORAGES WITH A PLURALITY F TONGUES FOR RECEI VING SCREWS OF DIF- FERENT SIZE AND LENGTH Emanuel Gisondi, New York, N. Y. Application June 4, 1956, Serial No. 589,149

Claims. (CI- 85-24) This invention relates to anchorages for screws, or for other threaded or roughened fasteners, and particularly those intended for securing articles or fixtures to walls or, to other surfaces which normally do not, in and of themselves, atford a secure anchorage for a screw or nail.

An anchorage of the type to which the present invention relates, and over which said invention is an improvement, is shown in my Patent No. 2,720,135, dated October 11, 1955.

One of the shortcomings of most of these types of anchorages is due to the inability of eachanchorage to adapt itself to wall materials of different thicknesses and to'firmly anchor itself in an opening produced in thezwall'. That is to say, the user is generally required to carefully select an anchorage of asize and form enabling it to best function in a wall material of a specified nature and thickness. As a result, many users of screw anchorages secure unsatisfactory results because of the improper selection of an anchorage for the specific wall material and the thickness thereof through which the anchorage is fitted. For example, it is apparent that with most anchorages, an anchorage intended for fitment through a hole in a thin veneer, such as used in hollow veneer doors, would not be satisfactory for use in hollow tile, masonry, cinder block, or in one or more thicknesses of a low density material such as Celotex or the like.

It is therefore an important object of the present invention to provide an anchorage adapted for universal use. That is to say, the improved anchorage shall be provided with means by which it will become securely anchored in materials of various thicknesses; in holes formed in masonry, brick, cinder or concrete block or in or through a host of other known building materials. Thus, with this improved anchorage, the user is required to purchase only one, or possibly nomore than two different sizes, to meet all of his anchorage requirements and'without regard to the nature of the materials into which the sanchorages. are to be fitted.

It is another object of the invention to provide an anchorage of this character which will accept wood screws, machine screws or other threaded or roughened elements; which will accept screws or other fastening elements of numerous lengths and diameters and with fine or coarsethreads, and will thus not be critical as to the length and diameter of the screw inserted into it; which is operated and forced into engaged position solely by the insertion of the screw" into it, and which will securely grip and hold the screw andthus enable the screw to firmly attach fixtures or other elements to the wall or other surface in which the anchorage is fitted.

It is still another object of the invention to provide an anchorage of the character described which can be pro described and' more particularly pointed out in the. claimswall 14 composed of the two meeting end sections 15 and appended hereto.

In the accompanying drawings, wherein an illustrative embodiment of the invention is disclosed,

Fig-1 is a face view of the sheet-metal blank from which -.the.improved. anchorage is produced;

Fig. 2 is a side elevational. view of the anchorage pro-- duced from the blank of Fig. l;

Fig. 3 is a view of the anchorage, ,taken at right anglesto that of Fig. 2; I

Fig. 4 is an enlarged sectional view, taken substantially on the line 44 of Fig. 2, looking. in the direction of the arrows; 1

Fig. 5fis a sectional view, taken substantially on the line 5- -5 of Fig. 3,, looking. in the direction of the arrows; Fig.6 is an. enlarged top plan view of the anchorage; Fig. 7 is a longitudinal sectional view through the anchorage showing the same fitted. within. an opening in a relatively thick wall or other body, and with a relatively lengthy screw fitted within the anchorage;

Fig. 8 is a similar'sectional view, through one of the anchorages, showing it engaged by a relatively short,. thick screw and inserted through an. opening in thin sheet. material, such as the veneer of a hollow veneer door;.

ablyformed from spring sheet metal, such. as sheet steel or other suitable material of non-corrosivenature ortre'ated to resist corrosion. Extending centrally and l'ongitudi-' nally of the blank is an elongated rib 2' which is formed in the blank by distorting the same outwardly, as clearly indicated at 3 in Fig. 4. Provided at 4 and 5 in the blank are spaced, parallel slits extending longitudinally of the blank. A second pair of similar slits isshown at 6 and 7. These slits extend for a very substantial portion of the length of the blank, and in the formation of the sleeve portion of the anchorage, the blank is folded on these slits as well as on the dotted lines 4a, 5a, 6a and 7a, forming contin'uations of the several slits, as clearly seen in Fig. 1.

Extending between the two slits 4' and 5 is a connecting slit 8 in the shape of a flattened V, thus dividing the material of the blank that is located between these two slits into a pair of tongues indicated respectively at 9 and 10.

As is clearly seen in Figs. 2 and 5, the tongue shown at. 9*

is subsequently bent into hook formation, the b ight 11 of the hook thus formed extending inwardly toward the position to engage against the inner wall surfaces of an aperture or hole 38 formed in a wall or other structure 14, as clearly seen in Fig. 7.

At this point it is desirable to describe the formationof the rectilinear sleeve or housing of the anchorage. To produce this sleeve, the blank 1 is longitudinally folded from end to end, on the lines of the slits 4,5, 6 and 7 and the dotted line extensions thereof. This results in the formation of a side wall 13'having the rib 2 extending down its longitudinal center and serving to stiffen and re inforce this wall. The folding of the blank in the man:

ner described also results in the formation of an opposite 16 of the blank. As will be noted in Fig. 4, the meeting edges of the two wall sections 15 and 16- are curled slightly outwardly, as indicated at 17 and 18, sothat these meeting edges are stiffened in a. manner toco-operate with the rib 2 in resisting axial collapse of the sleeve Patented Feb. 18, s

the wall aperture in which the an hora e is to be fitted- At their forward ends. the walls 13 and 14 of the sleeve are formed with tapered or pointed extensions 19. form-. ing entering pron s for the sleeve and facilitating its 'insertion int or throu h a hole or recess, such as that shown at 38. in a wall or other surface. At each side of ea h of the rongs 19 in the blank 1 is a tab '20. which tabs 20 are infolded as shown in Fig. 6. to provide partial closure for the forward end of the sleeve. but producing the central opening 21 throu h which the forward end of a screw 40 or other fastening element may enter, substantially as shown in Fig. 7. At the op osite end of the blank, slits 22 and 23 provide tab portions 24 between them. and these tab portions 24 are bent laterally to form a head f r the sleeve and to abut against the outer surface of the wall into which the sleeve is driven. as clearly shown in Fi s. 7 nd 8. At this head end of the sleeve are provided lu s 25 hich corres ond somewhat to those sh wn at 20 and which are bent inwardly to form a partial closure f r the head end of the sleeve. but providing an opening between them. similar to that provided between the tabs 20 at the opposite, or forward, end of the sleeve.

Extended between the slits 6 and 7 is a flattened V- sha ed slit 26 which co-operates with the lon itudinal slits 6 and 7 to produce a tongue 27 similar to the tongue .shown at 9. Tongue 27 is formed into hook shape and has its bi ht directed toward and normally relatively close to the bight 11 of the hook-shaped tongue 9, as clearlv seen in Figs. 2 and 5. A hole 28 is formed in the bight area of each of the tongues 9 and 27. such hole facilitating the engagement between these portions of the tongues 9 and 27 and the thread on the screw that is inserted between them. The ends or outer terminals 12 and 29, of the respective tongues 9 and 27 are pointed through their formation by the V-slits 8 and 26,-and these pointed ends aid in penetration into the wall surfaces of the aperture into which the anchorage is driven. This will be plainly noted in Fig. 7.

The slits 6 and 7 and the co-operating cross-slit 26 also produce the tongue 30 which is similar to the tongue and thus a description of one of these tongues will suffice for both. Adjacent to its free end, each of these tongues is bent into hook shape, the hook portion on the tongue 10 being indicated at 31, while the hook portion on the tongue 30 is indicated at 32. As is clearly seen in Figs. 2 and 5, the notched end 33 of the hook portion 32 slightly overlaps the similar notched end 34 of the hook portion 31. Adjacent to its attached or base end, each of the tongues 10 and 30 is provided with a stampedout hook-shaped prong 35 and also with an inturned lug 36, the lug 36 being located between the prong 35 and the hooked end of the tongue. Each of the tongues 10 and 30 is formed with a hole 37. so located as to enable its bordering edge to possibly engage with the threads on a screw inserted within the sleeve.

In placing the anchorage in position in a wall, ceiling or other location, a hole 38 or other properly shaped aperture is made in the wall, which might be of plaster, masonry, concrete or cinder block, or it might be composed of one or more thicknesses of any known sheet materials used in the building industry. For simplicity in illustration, Fig. 7 shows the anchorage as placed in an aperture38 provided ina s0lid wallmaterial 3 9, such as plaster or concrete. While the sleeve of the anchorage is substantially -square in cross-sectional shape, the

hole for its reception can be roughly round, being thus capable of easy formation in or through the wall material. When the anchorage is fitted into the aperture 38, the lugs 24 at the head end of the anchorage will limit'the extent of insertion of the sleeve by facial abutment against the surface of the wall, as clearly seen in Figs. 7 and 8.

screws, machine SCI'CWS O! Otllfll fasteners Of various counters the lugs 36 and spreads them apart; next contacting the apertured areas of the tongues 10 and 30 and separates these tongues, to next enter between the notched ends 33 and 34 of said tongues. forcing the tongues farther apart. If the screw is sufficiently long, it will enter between the bights of the tongues 9 and 27 and engage with the holes 28 thereof, while forcing these tongues apart. The forward end of the screw will finally enter into the opening 21 at the forward end of the sleeve, and if the screw is long enough and of substantial diameter, it will tend" to spread or expand the sleeve along its split between the ends 17 and 18, thus tending to wedge the sleeve within the wall opening into which it is fitted;

It will be apparent from the foregoing, that the anchoring effects secured by the anchorage are attained according to the types and sizes of screws inserted in it. In Fig. 7 wherein a relatively thin and lengthy screw is inserted, the terminals 12 and 29 of the respective tongues 9 and 27 are being forced into biting engagement with the wall surfaces of the aperture 38. The bights of the hook portions 31 and 32 of tongues 10 and 30 may also be firmly forced by the screw into engagement with the wall surfaces of aperture 38.

When the anchorage is fitted through an opening in a. relatively thin wall material, so that the hook P01110118,

31 and 32 will project behind the wall material, the spreading apart of the tongues 10 and 30, by the entry of the screw between them will cause these hook portions to engage behind the material of the'wall and prevent axial withdrawal of the anchorage. If the material of the wall is of greater thickness, the screw 40, entering between the tongues 9 and 27 and spreading these tongues apart, will cause the tongues to engage behind that wall.

Often it is desired to fasten an anchorage in relatively thin material, such as the veneer of which hollow doors are conventionally constructed. How this is done is shown in Fig. 8, wherein it will be noted that a relatively short and thick screw 41 is used, the same, on its entry into the sleeve operating to urge the prongs 35 apart and causing them to enter behind the back of the veneer as seen in Fig. 8, this effect being further secured as the screw encounters the lugs 35 and finally engages the ends 33 and 34 of the tongues 10 and 30. Thus, as the tongues 10 and 30 are quite widely spread by the relatively thick screw, the prongs 35 will extend behind the thin material and hold the anchorage against dislodgement.

The herein described construction is such that gripping and engagement of the anchorage. in holes through materials of different thicknesses and densities is secured, this being dependent upon the nature of the materials into which the anchorage is fitted and the types, lengths and thicknesses of screws employed. Some types and lengths of screws will cause'the tongues 9, 27 and 10 and 30 to engage either within a wall aperture or at the back of the wall material dependent upon the thickness of such material. Other screws will cause the prongs 35 to become effective to grip either within an aperture or engage behind the wall material as in Fig. 8. In other cases, and particularly when a long, relatively large diameter screw is used, it will not only be engaged by the various tongues and lugs, but will forcibly spread the sleeve apart along the split between the edges 17 and 18 so that the anchorage will thereupon act as an expansion device,

and wedge itself firmly in the hole in the wall material. To facilitate the expansion eflect just mentioned, the

sleeve might be made as shown in Fig. 9. Therein the 'asaasr'a wall 13, instead of being provided with the reinforcing rib 2, will be formed with a plurality of connection strips 50, slightly bent as shown at 51. These strips will permit of easier expansion of the sleeve, should material expansion of the sleeve be found desirable.

While the various tongues provided on the anchorage are effective in causing the anchorage to be firmly held in or through a wall aperture, these prongs, acting sequentionally in pairs according to the length and diameters of the screws used, also firmly engage the threads of the screw in a manner to prevent inadvertent unthreading and resultant dislodgernent of the screw.

Having described an embodiment of the invention, it is obvious that the same is not to be restricted thereto, but is broad enough to cover all structures coming within the scope of the annexed claims.

What I claim is:

1. A screw anchorage comprising, a box-like sleeve having a pair of oppositely-arranged walls, means extending longitudinally of each of the said walls for stifiening the same, tongues disposed between the walls and arranged for lateral extension beyond the sleeve under pressure of a screw inserted within the sleeve and between the tongues, one pair of said tongues having hooked ends directed away from one another, a second pair of said tongues having hooked ends directed toward one another and in overlapped relation, the latter pair of tongues each having an inwardly-directed lug and an outwardly-directed prong formed out of the tongue near its base, the sleeve being provided with points at one end and with outwardly-directed flanges at its other end, each end of the sleeve having inturned lug portions defining screw-receiving openings.

2. A screw anchorage adapted to be fitted into a wall comprising a split sleeve of rectangular cross-sectional shape, said sleeve including a pair of opposed walls, each of which is provided with a pair of tongues, each of said tongues having a hooked end, the hook at the end of one of the tongues extending outwardly, the hook at the end of the second tongue extending inwardly, the sleeve having a head end defined by outturned flanges, one of the tongues in each wall having a base adjacent to said end, said last-mentioned tongues each having a stamped-out pair of oppositely-directed lugs, the remaining tongue in each wall having its base located adjacent to the forward end of the sleeve, said last-mentioned tongues being those which have the hooked ends directed outwardly, said outwardly-directed hooked ends having means for contact with a screw inserted in the sleeve to force the said hooked ends outwardly into the wall'of a hole in which the sleeve is inserted.

3. A screw anchorage adapted to be fitted in an opening in a wall, said anchorage consisting of a four-walled sleeve having a plurality of pairs of spring tongues formed out of two of its opposing walls, the walls out of which two of the tongues are formed being provided at one end with outturned lugs, the two remaining walls having inturned tabs at said end to co-operate with the lugs in forming a head at said end of the anchorage, one pair of the spring tongues having inwardly-extended hooked ends adapted to grippingly engage the shank of a screw inserted between them, each of the tongues in said latter pair having a pair of oppositely-directed lugs, one of said lugs being directed inwardly and the other outwardly, a second pair of spring tongues having hooked ends directed outwardly and adapted to be projected outwardly beyond the sides of the sleeve when a screw'is engaged between them, the tongues in one of said pairs having their bases located adjacent to the head end of the sleeve and the tongues in the second pair having their bases adjacent to the opposite end thereof.

4. A screw anchorage comprising a sheet metal casing in the form of a rectilinear sleeve, said sleeve including a pair of spaced-apart substantially parallel Walls, connecting walls located between the parallel walls, each connecting wall being formed with a tapered and pointed element at the forward end of the sleeve, each connecting wall including a hook-shaped tongue having its base located near the forward end of the sleeve, said tongues having outwardly-directed ends adapted to be extended laterally outside of the limits of the sleeve when a screw is inserted within the sleeve and extends between the tongues, said tongues each having a portion extending inwardly of the plane of the connecting wall so that said tongues can be engaged by the screw to thereby force the tongues apart, the connecting walls each including a second tongue having a hooked end, said second tongues having their bases located adjacent to the opposite end of the sleeve, the hooked ends of said second tongues being directed inwardly and toward one another, each of the latter tongues having a rounded portion adapted to be projected beyond the lateral limits of the sleeve by the screw inserted between the ends of the second tongues, and each of said second tongues having a pair of oppositely-directed, screw-engaging lugs disposed between its base and its free end.

5. In a screw anchorage as provided for in claim 4, wherein all of the tongues are provided with a hole at a position where edge portions of each tongue defining the hole are likely to engage the threads of a screw inserted in the sleeve between the tongues.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,495,497 Ogden May 27, 1924 2,244,975 Tinnerman June 10, 1941 2,567,884 Heath Sept. 11, 1951 2,596,952 Crowther May 13, 1952 2,720,l35 Gisondi Oct. 11, 1955 FOREIGN PATENTS 543,923 France June 12, 1922 

